§ Mr. JenkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what cost analysis he has carried out of introducing a 589W pilot screening programme for pregnant women to test for Group B Streptococcus; and what he estimates the costs involved would be. [136418]
§ Dr. LadymanThe UK National Screening Committee (NSC) has commissioned an assessment of the existing evidence on screening for Group B Streptococcus in pregnancy against criteria used to assess potential screening programmes to ensure they do more good than harm. This assessment will include consideration of the costs that would be involved in introducing a screening programme. The NSC is expected to consider policy options at its meeting in December 2003.